New Delhi: A piercing chill and thick fog continue to grip vast swathes of North and Central India, with little relief expected in the immediate future. According to the latest bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), residents across the region should brace for a further drop in temperatures over the next 48 hours.
The weather agency has flagged that minimum temperatures are likely to fall gradually by 2–3°C across Northwest, Central, and parts of East India. Following this dip over the next two days, the IMD expects temperatures to stabilize with no significant changes predicted thereafter.
Fog Alert for Plains
Visibility remains a primary concern for commuters. The IMD stated that dense to very dense fog is highly likely to envelope Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi during the night and early morning hours for the next few days. This reduced visibility has already impacted road and rail movement, prompting the agency to advise travelers to exercise extreme caution, particularly during pre-dawn hours.
Similar foggy conditions are also expected at isolated pockets in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha. The weather department clarified that these fog and cold-related warnings are currently issued as “Take Action” alerts rather than emergency red alerts.
Cold Wave and Temperature Extremes
While fog disrupts travel, the cold bite is intensifying in eastern parts of the country. Cold day conditions are likely to persist over Bihar, with the possibility of isolated cold wave conditions occurring between December 24 and December 28.
In terms of temperature extremes recorded over the plains of India, Gurdaspur in Punjab reported the lowest minimum temperature at a shivering 5°C. Conversely, the southern peninsula remains warm, with Punalur in Kerala recording the highest maximum temperature at 35°C.
Western Disturbance Incoming
Looking ahead, the IMD has confirmed the arrival of a fresh, albeit weak, Western Disturbance. This weather system is slated to affect the Western Himalayan region starting December 27. Under its influence, isolated light to moderate rainfall and snowfall are expected across Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand between December 27 and 29.
Apart from the northern hills, weather activity is also forecast for the islands. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on December 27 and 28.
